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November 17, 2014

The Hiding Place

I have to say I've read a lot of great books over the years, but this one was extraordinary.

Corrie, her sister Betsie, and the rest of their family are such an inspiration.

I often cried reading their story and long to know God more after reading it.

He is so good.

Corrie
uses the first few chapters to share her family life in Holland. A
little background of a normal everyday life. Then the war came, they
hid Jews in their home, were later caught, sent to prison, then to a
horrific concentration camp.

One thing that stood out
to me in this book was that it wasn't just their story, as much as it
was about the Lord and how good and faithful He is. How His plans are
not ours, and how He teaches and grows us through adversaries. All of
these people are now with Him, experiencing the fullness of joy from the
Lord.

Betsie Ten Boom

I loved Corrie's sister Betsie in this true life story.

Betsie understood God.

She knew Him well and praised Him in all things.
She gave me a better understanding of who God is, His greatness, His
holiness, His faithfulness and His love for us.

It was beyond
encouraging.

Here Betsie encourages Corrie after Corrie finds shrapnel on her pillow during a bombing:

"'Betsie, if I hadn't heard you in the kitchen...'But Betsie put a finger on my mouth. 'Don't say it, Corrie! There are
no 'ifs' in God's world. And no places that are safer than other
places. The center of His will is our only safety - Oh Corrie, let us
pray that we may always know it!"

Corrie Ten Boom

God used Betsie to encourage Corrie and then He took her home.

Corrie
then went on to accomplish only what God could accomplish. And she gave
Him all the glory for the many lives He touched through her.

I'll
leave you with a conversation between Betsie and Corrie when they are
both overwhelmed by the hatred and brutality within the concentration
camp.

Women being forced to parade around in the cold, naked., humiliated. Their dignity stripped from them.

Corrie writes here:

"...it
was one of these mornings while we were waiting, shivering, in the
corridor, that yet another page in the Bible leapt into life for me.

He hung naked on the cross.

I had not known - I had not thought...The paintings, the carved
crucifixes showed at the least a scrap of cloth. But this, I suddenly
knew, was the respect and reverence of the artist. But oh - at the time
itself, on that other Friday morning - there had been no reverence. No
more than I saw in the faces around us now.I leaned toward Betsie, ahead of me in line. Her shoulder blades stood out sharp and thin beneath her blue-mottled skin.'Betsie, they took His clothes, too.'Ahead of me I heard a little gasp. 'Oh Corrie. And I never thanked Him..."

Hi Cathy! I should read this book. I've had it since I was kid, receiving a copy through Billy Graham Crusades many a year ago. It is good to read your insight about it. What a legacy she left! I'm with you - she is on my list of great women too!

I used to get free books years and years ago from the Billy Graham Association as well. I remember receiving "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and it sitting on my bookshelf for years! Now that I've finally read it, it's one of my favorite books!

So thankful for the free literature Billy Graham gives out! I may never have read Oswald Chambers book if I hadn't got it for free.

This is truly a beautiful book. Not because of the ugliness at that time (not much better now) but because of the beauty that shone through these ladies when none was to be found. Truly an example for us. We always have opportunities to be an expression of God to those around us. Blessings, Diane

My daughter has red this in the past and just finished it a second time. Really the only thing I know about it is when they are giving thanks for the fleas! That just always makes me stop and think what I complain about all day long or even what I give thanks for.

Isn't this book wonderful, Cathy? It really did change my perspective on my entire life. When I feel less than content with any situation I find myself in, I remember this story and it sets me straight. I wrote a post about my favorite Corrie Ten Boom quotes, if you are interested. Thanks for sharing this with us. (Visiting from A Little R&R)

I have lived in that book MANY times in the last 43 years. Got it when it first came out. And was hugely blessed to see her/meet her at the church in Redwood City, CA. I was only 26, then, and the book was opened to us then. What a treat. I've never forgotten. And I've had the movie piece, too, in the past number of years. Overall, she was a treat, in spite of what happened to her and her family, AND since she went to Heaven when she was just turning 90 that evening when she agreed to stop staying in our world when one of the main spiritual men... leader of YWAM that she'd known since he was young... and I look forward to meeting, seeing her again. You grabbed my attention BIG TIME! Thank you.

Welcome to my blog!
A blog of thoughts on books I've read with a few extra thoughts thrown in. : )
I'm a wife and mom of three. I love reading and learning, gardening and listening to good music and I love spending time with my family.
My hope is that this blog brings honor to the Lord and some encouragement for you.